JANUARY 2022

UACI Sponsored Launch Fueled by Perkins Coie

Through collaboration and sponsorship with Perkins Coie LLP, UACI is offering a sponsored year at the incubator for one deserving startup with a committed team that is working to solve a significant business or social challenge. The winning team will receive a cash award of $15,000, which includes funding for a legal project budget, and one year’s admission into the UACI. The total prize package is valued at $25,000. 

The enhanced program will offer customized business support to ensure that the winning startup team has a successful journey through a 27-point venture development roadmap. The application window for submissions will close on Monday, January 19, 2022.  


 

Wells Fargo Supports UACI STEM Intern Program

Wells Fargo recently awarded UACI $20,000 to support female-led startups with STEM students! This grant will be used to recruit interns to partner with startups in the STEM field. This provides startups with more bandwidth and will give students real-world work experience. This grant adds to our $50k grant with the Small Business Administration which will allow UACI to hire female interns to work with startups over the next two years. 

 

UACI Startup is a Finalist for the Purina Petcare Innovation Prize

UACI startup, uPetsia, is a finalist for the Purina Petcare Innovation Prize! uPetsia takes natural bacteria from dog mouths, screens them to ensure they are safe and effective, and then modifies them to produce pleasant aromas, then incorporated into dog treats. This revolutionary way to improve pet’s breath is based on University of Arizona technology licensed through Tech Launch Arizona. Purina’s annual competition awards early-stage companies that are defining the future of pet care through novel products or services that provide meaningful solutions. 

 

Emagine Solutions Technologies Wins SBIR Grant

Emagine Solutions Technology, a current UACI startup, was awarded the National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grant of $256,000! The SBIR Phase I grant is aimed at improving clinical outcomes associated with pregnancy and prenatal care for those affected by preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition of pregnancy. Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant, it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1 million).

 

Metfora Selected as 2022 Venture Madness Finalist

Congrats to Metfora for making it to the finalists round for the 2022 Venture Madness Competition. This event, hosted in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, received applications from 95 companies from which the top 16 were selected to compete head-to-head for cash prizes and exclusive access to active, accredited angel investors and venture capital firms from around the country. Metfora utilizes tech based on University of Arizona research licensed through Tech Launch Arizona. They completed the UA Forge pilot program and are an incoming UACI client.

 

Startup Spotlight: Ambr Grading

Current UACI startup, Ambr Grading is a collector-card authentication and grading company for trading card games (TCG) like “Magic: The Gathering” and Pokémon. The company went live on Kickstarter and surpassed its funding goal for its product launch for grading service of collectible trading card games!

 

Meet, Steve Wood

Steve Wood is a mentor-in-residence at UACI with over 25 years of startup experience and an impressive track record of expanding companies and increasing their revenue. Steve's expertise extends beyond business and into the airwaves. He has been a pilot for many years and continues to fly. He has also been with Amateur Radio for 13 years. We are honored to offer Steve Wood's support to startups in the UACI incubation program.

 
 
January 19 - 20

AZ Photonics Days

The Arizona Technology Council’s Optics Valley Committee is hosting Arizona Photonics Days once again. Join your peers and industry leaders as the optics network showcases their tech and business presentations in 5 tracks: Quantum Information Science, Biomedical Technology, Astronomy, Sensing and Metrology, and Laser Technology. Arizona optics and photonics companies and the Global Photonics Alliance unite for two days of technical discussions and business-to-business meetings during the fifth annual Arizona Photonics Days held January 19-21, 2022, at the UA Tech Park Event Center.

January 20

UACI Commercialization Workshop: Diluted Funding

Join our first session of the UACI Commercialization Workshop Series on 1/20 hosted by Stephanie Sims to learn more about Diluted Funding Strategies and how to best fund your company and technology. 

January 27

UACI Commercialization Workshop: Customer Discovery

Join our second session of the UACI Commercialization Workshop Series on 1/27 hosted by UACI Mentor in Residence Steve Wood to learn more about Customer Discovery and how to conduct interviews and understand your customer in a meaningful way.

January 27

Arizona VIP Tech Council Mixer

The Arizona Technology Council is kicking off 2022 with a VIP mixer at the UA Tech Park. Connect with business leaders and the Arizona Tech Council leaders and board members during the first quarter tech mixer which will be hosted on January 27 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

February 3

UACI Commercialization Workshop: Team & Board Development / Strategic Partnerships

Join our third session of the UACI Commercialization Workshop Series on 2/3 hosted by UACI Executive Director Eric Smith to learn more about Team and Board Development and Strategic Partnerships.

February 10

UACI Commercialization Workshop: Intellectual Property Strategies

UACI is hosting Commercialization Workshops. Please join our fourth and final session on 2/10 hosted by Quan Nguyen and learn more about Intellectual Property Strategies.

 

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a startup incubator network with outposts across the Southern Arizona region and a mission to grow scalable startup ventures that fuel the Arizona economy. The Client Services Coordinator manages incubator facilities logistics, supports the data input of startup lead generation, manages contract templates and supports the Executive Director. This position is currently 40 hours per week and reports to the Executive Director.

 
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The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a key component of Tech Parks Arizona which brings together university, industry and community to advance technology innovation. UACI is the University of Arizona's startup incubator network with outposts across the Southern Arizona region with a mission to grow scalable startup ventures that fuel the Arizona ecosystem.